Selling or buying jewelry requires a massive amount of research and knowledge in order to obtain pieces that you want or need. With all the information that you need, it can be tough to know where to start.

Take a magnet and a keen eye with you when you head out to purchase any jewelry made from sterling silver. As a precious metal, silver should never be attracted to a magnet. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. Be wary of jewelery without any kind of hallmark, as often it is fake.

Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. Gemstones now come in natural as well as synthetic and imitation types. Imitation gems are basically plastic that is colored, while synthetic and natural are real. Natural …